HC Deb 16 November 1953 vol 520 cc1395-7
37. Mr. Gower

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will take steps to enable sick and partly disabled men affected by the lapsing of Section 62 of the National Insurance Act, 1947, to qualify for sick benefit whenever it is apparent that their sickness or partial disability has seriously diminished their opportunities of obtaining light employment, although their state of health might otherwise make it possible for them to continue in light employment.

Mr. Peake

I do not think it would be consistent with the general purposes of sickness benefit to alter the statutory conditions for it so as to make the diminution of opportunities of employment an alternative requirement to the existing one of incapacity for work. Substantial numbers of persons formerly receiving extended benefit have, however, made successful claims to sickness benefit.

Mr. Gower

While thanking my right hon. Friend for the last portion of his reply, may I ask whether he agrees that in many cases the fact that the men have been partially disabled, while it does not preclude the possibility of their claiming work, does seriously hamper them? Does he agree that that may merit special consideration for that particular kind of person?

Mr. Peake

I am watching this whole question very carefully, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the table I furnished a week ago in reply to a Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards), which contained some very illuminating figures upon this matter.

39. Miss Herbison

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to state, in categories, as for example industrially disabled, married women, etc., the number in Scotland who have lost unemployment benefit by the lapsing of Section 62, National Insurance Act, 1946, to the latest convenient date.

Mr. Peake

As the answer includes a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Miss Herbison

Would the Minister please tell us now how many industrially disabled are included in those figures which he said a few minutes ago were very revealing?

Mr. Peake

I cannot compile a special category for the industrially disabled, but the figures I propose to furnish to the hon. Lady are informative and are very full.

Miss Herbison

Since these figures for Scotland are already close on 4,000 what steps will the Minister take to ensure that these people shall not suffer the great cut in income that they are suffering at present owing to his action?

Mr. Peake

I think that if the hon. Lady studies the figures she will find that the most satisfactory feature of them is that something like 40 per cent. of those whose extended benefit has come to an end have found employment and that only about 10 per cent. of those whose extended benefit has come to an end have had to go to the National Assistance Board.

Miss Herbison

But is the Minister not aware that that 10 per cent. are those very people about whom we spoke when this was debated in the House, and that that 10 per cent. are possibly pneumoconiotics and the industrially disabled, who suffer a great deal without having this further indignity put on them?

Mr. Peake

As I explained in answer to a previous Question, there is a con- siderable proportion of these people who have transferred on to sickness benefit as a result of certain changes which I was able to make in the rules and regulations,

When Section 62 of the National Insurance Act, 1946, expired on 4th July, 1953, about 11,750 persons in Scotland were drawing extended benefit. The position of these persons at 23rd September (the latest date for which this information is available) was as follows:—

Position at 23rd September Men Women [Figures for married women when available are given in brackets] All persons
Known to have obtained employment 1,150 350 [200] 1,500
Receiving insurance unemployment benefit 5,700 2,100 [1,230] 7,800
Receiving sickness benefit or retirement pension. 250 100 350
Not entitled to one of the other benefits but receiving national assistance. 750 200 950
(See Footnote 2)
Not receiving unemployment benefit or national assistance but still registering for employment. 200 50 [25] 250
Ceased to register for employment—reasons unknown. 200 700 900
Total 8,250 3,500 [2,150] 11,750

NOTES:

1. Rather more than a third of those receiving extended benefit on 6th July, and a similar proportion of those subsequently qualifying for one of the insurance benefits mentioned were also receiving national assistance.

2. Of the 950 persons receiving national assistance but no unemployment benefit on 23rd September, about 500 had previously been drawing it in supplementation of unemployment benefit.

3. Separate figures for the industrially disabled are not available.

40. Miss Herbison

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to state in categories, as for example industrially disabled, married women, etc., the number in Lanarkshire who have lost unemployment benefit by the lapsing of Section 62, National Insurance Act, 1946, to the latest convenient date.

Mr. Peake

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. T. Brown

In veiw of the revealing figure the right hon. Gentleman published last week, that the persons affected by the ending of Section 62, totalled 17,400, will he consider the reinstitution of Section 62 to help those people?

Mr. Peake

That question does not arise on a supplementary on whether I have any information or not regarding Lanarkshire.